Attraction

22.

I explain to Paul about the phone call I just encountered and we both agree that I need to call the police and report to them. After I call the police and tell them everything, they take a report of it and say they'll try to trace whoever it is that's been calling me. It comforts me a little, but not by much.
I end up falling asleep in his arms that night, I had felt scared but knowing he was by my side really comforts me.

My body rolls over and I feel him wrap his arms around me causing a smile to form on my lips even in my sleepy haze. I stretch my body as I sit up and look over to see a peaceful sleeping Paul, his hair is in a disarray but it looks good on him.

I decide on making the both of us breakfast this morning and letting him sleep in—he's been so consistent and there for me through all of this that's I've been going through for the past couple of weeks.
I quietly get out of bed-careful not to wake up Paul, it's barely eight am and I want him to have some time to sleep in while I cook. The loose white shirt hangs from my body just barely below my thighs as I begin to cook breakfast.

The sound of the coffee pot brewing and the sizzling of the eggs can be heard as I turn the small breakfast sausage links— I decide on making waffles as well. The familiar feeling of two warm arms embrace me from behind and I jump lightly still holding the spatula in my hand- a smile appearing on my face as Paul kisses my cheek.

He let's go of me and I turn around to face him, he grabs a green and pink coffee mug— I know he doesn't have a quirk about the coffee mug colors like I do but it doesn't bother me at all, actually. He pours the hot liquid into the cups and he stirs the creamer in handing me the pink one.

"Good morning." He says in a cheerful tone, his eyes are warm and bright today.

"Morning." I say returning the smile, I turn off the burners and we begin fixing our plates as we start eating our breakfast.

We clean up the kitchen together after we eat and I take a quick shower afterwards to wake myself up a bit more.

"Let's watch some tv." I say as Paul sits next to me on the couch, my wet hair clings to the back of my t shirt- I cuddle into Paul as I turn to different channels from the remote, I settle on the news which catches my eye at the news reporters words.

"The town of Forks Washington is in shock and no one can quite wrap their minds around what has happened. The body of twenty three year old Jessie Miller was discovered early this morning dismembered and-"

I can feel the blood leave my face as I see Jessie's picture pop up on the corner of the screen. Her blonde hair cascading around her shoulder, her white perfect teeth in a beautiful grin.
I can't handle seeing her face after this horrible information- I quickly switch off the tv as the feeling of nausea overtakes me.

Paul wraps his arms around me and the tears begin to flow from my eyes, how can something like this happen? Things like this just don't happen here in Forks, this isn't real. There has to be some kind of horrible mistake- not Jessie. As I cry into his shoulder I feel his arms tighten around me as he whispers soothing words against me- he's trying to console me.

But I never imagine this was what had become of Jessie. Jessie was so young, she had so much going for her and so much ahead of her and it was all stolen. Her life was now taken by someone who has no regard for human life at all, it makes me feel so sick.

Her face burns in my mind like picture forever engraved into my memory, my heart aches at the thought of that night at the diner was the last time I was ever going to see her and I didn't even know it- when those doors began to close and she turned to smile at me while mouthing I'll call you tomorrow would be the last time I ever saw her.

I cried until it felt like I couldn't cry anymore, instead I felt the need to apologize to Paul for even crying like this in front of him. True, I hadn't known Jessie for ages- I had only known her for a few months from working at the diner but we had become friends. Jessie and I had hung out, she had been in my apartment- I liked her as I person. The stinging feeling of sadness that I felt in my chest just wouldn't subside and I pained me to think about how she was truly gone. I didn't even want to imagine what she must have gone through, I couldn't.

"I'm so sorry, Willow." Paul murmurs as he gently strokes the side of my red and puffy face.

My tears have dried and my head rests comfortably on his lap but the sadness doesn't go away- it stays like an unwanted thought.

"I just can't believe it..." My voice sounds hoarse and weak, a deep sigh leaves my lips and I close my eyes for a moment.

"She's really gone." I whisper.  "I hope they find whoever did this to her."

"I know...Me too." Paul says.

He tangles our hands together, he gives mine a gentle squeeze and I'm grateful that he's here. I'm grateful that I have someone like him... Someone who genuinely cares about me.

The time passes by with Paul and I cuddling on the couch watching tv shows together, anything but the news. Time goes by as our vegging out continues and the time keeps passing us by, the ticking of a clock can be heard from the show we're watching.
It's a painful reminder that time keeps going for us, no matter how sad we are or how happy we can be- time keeps going whether we like it to or not. But not for Jessie, time stopped for her.